Happy Bix Beiderbecke's Birthday!

For some people, the day pitchers and catchers report to spring training is the first harbinger of spring. For others its when the first crocuses appear. For still others, it's when you leave work at the end of the day and it's still light out.

For me, the first real sign of spring is WKCR's annual Bix Beiderbecke's Birthday Broadcast.

Phil Schaap, who is a walking encyclopedia of jazz knowledge, used to do 24 straight hours of Bix on Bix' birthday, much the same as he did for other jazz greats. But now he just covers Bix on his Saturday night "Traditions in Swing" program.

So if you're reading this between 6 and 9 Eastern time tonight, check it out. Or if you're in central NJ, you can check out the Bixian cornet player Jeff Hughes at Somerset County Vo-Tech at 8:00 PM. If you're in or near Racine Wisconsin, there's one more day of Tribute to Bix Fest at the Marriott Racine. More info on that event here. Or if you just want to hear what one of the best damn cornet players of the early jazz age sounded like, and how fresh his music still is today, all the Bix you can eat is here.